The opening Premier League match of the season between Liverpool and Bournemouth was halted in the first half after Antoine Semenyo complained he had been racially abused by a spectator.
The game, which Liverpool won 4-2, was stopped by referee Anthony Taylor when he was alerted to the alleged abuse and both managers and captains were called over.
Semenyo had been involved in an exchange with a Liverpool fan moments earlier while preparing to take a throw-in in front of the Main Stand. At half time, the fan, in a wheelchair, was escorted out of the stadium by three police officers.
Merseyside Police launched an investigation along with the Premier League.
Getty: Robin Jones
Liverpool released a statement saying: “Liverpool Football Club is aware of an allegation of racist abuse made during our Premier League game against AFC Bournemouth. We condemn racism and discrimination in all forms, it has no place in society or football.
“The club is unable to comment further as tonight’s alleged incident is the subject of an ongoing police investigation, which we will support fully.”
Semenyo, who scored both of Bournemouth’s goals in the second half, was upset after the game, according to Andoni Iraola, the head coach.
“*It’s a shame that in the first game of the Premier League season, with two teams playing a really good game, we have to be talking about something that should be in the past but is not in the past,*” Iraola said.
“It is something that is still a big problem. Antoine was calm in the heat of the moment. We asked him if he could continue and he was composed but he is asking why these things are happening today? It’s a shame.”
'League must do more to stamp out abuse'
Adam Smith, the Bournemouth captain, called on the Premier League to take racism more seriously after suggesting it's taking a knee campaign does not work.
“**Totally unacceptable,*” Smith said. “[I’m] kind of in shock it happens in this day and age, I don’t know how Any has carried on playing and come up with his goals.*
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*“He’s a little bit down. Something needs to be done. We’ve had discussions with the Premier League about it so they have been taking it seriously. I don’t know what else we can do. We’ve been doing it for a long time now and no one is getting it.*”
The Liverpool head coach, Arne Slot, also spoke of how discrimination of any sort is unacceptable and said the evening should have been all about the emotional tributes to Diogo Jota, which left Mohamed Salah in tears, and Liverpool’s dramatic victory.
“It is unacceptable in any stadium, especially Anfield,” he said. “It shouldn’t happen but unfortunately we definitely have to talk about it. It should be about Diogo and how the tributes were.
“I spoke to Antoine after the game and said the club will do everything we can to find the person responsible. Big credit to him if something happens to him and he can perform like this. He’s not only a great player but very strong mentally. But it is unacceptable.”